Senaki: A Military Town and Its Rich History

Senaki is located in western Georgia, in Samegrelo and Zemo-Svaneti, between the rivers Tsivi and Tehura. The population is about 28 thousand people, which is pretty decent when compared with other cities.

Despite the fact that Senaki has a carpet factory, a machine-building plant and various enterprises for the production and processing of tea, milk and wine, it received the status of a city only in 1980.

Senaki is better known as a military town. Since 1945, a fighter regiment has been based here. However, in 1960 it was disbanded.

It is worth noting that until a certain time Senaki was called Miha-Tskhakaya, in honor of the Georgian revolutionary. The historical name of the city was returned in 1989. Translated from Georgian, it means "cell".

Perhaps we can say that the status of the military town of Senaki has not completely lost to this day. In 2005, the construction of a military base according to NATO standards began here, for which $ 17 million was allocated. The base was completed and put into operation in 2008. About 3 thousand people serve on it.

In the city and the surrounding area, you can find both new temples, the architectural appearance of which fully corresponds to the Georgian cultural and historical style, and various buildings that have come down to our time "from the gray antiquity".

Following the Senaki-Martvili highway, you can get to the abandoned town of Nokalakevi. According to legend, it existed in the pre-pagan era. According to one version, the Argonauts were looking for the golden Fleece right here.

The Shkhepi Fortress is a historical monument of a later construction, pre-feudal era. From Senaka, it can be reached on foot - about 6 kilometers. 

Within the city, one of the important attractions worth visiting is the State Theater.